College Students Taught That Capitalism Is to Blame for Poverty

Nothing in the history of the world has lifted more people out of poverty than capitalism. The solution to poverty is not collectivism, authoritarianism, generosity, or pious thoughts; it is wealth creation. Nothing competes with the free market for wealth creation — just as nothing competes with modern academia for poisoning young minds with corrosive lies:

Students in a sociology class at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) are required to read a textbook that blames poverty on capitalism and claims that teaching American exceptionalism has “racist overtones.”

The textbook, titled In Conflict and Order: Understanding Society, is required reading for a Principles of Sociology class (S161) at IPFW taught by Robert Pettit, which qualifies as a 3-credit general education requirement and is an introductory course for sociology majors.

Not only does the book tell readers that teaching American exceptionalism has “racist overtones,” but [it] also insists that America’s emphasis on equality is inconsistent with its practices, and even claims that “the basic tenet of capitalism—who gets what is determined by private profit rather than by collective need—explains the persistence of poverty.”

by Sir John Hawkins

John Hawkins's book 101 Things All Young Adults Should Know is filled with lessons that newly minted adults need in order to get the most out of life. Gleaned from a lifetime of trial, error, and writing it down, Hawkins provides advice everyone can benefit from in short, digestible chapters.